Friday, June 6, 2014

Spring Fever Sewing Plans!

Now that I'm finished with work travel until Labor Day - and boy has it been a brutal 5 months - I'm full of plans and sewing mojo. I normally know exactly what I'm sewing next as I finish a project, but finishing my McQueen jacket as I headed to London and knowing the weather was changing left me with a blank slate. I didn't get to all my winter projects, but at this time of year I tend to chuck previous sewing plans out the window anyway in a massive case of spring fever.

I've been sort of obsessed with this Claire McCardell inspired dress since Christine of DaughterFish recreated it about two years ago. Thankfully, Christine did a thorough tutorial on how she drafted it. I have some rayon challis, which I think will be perfect for it.

A Not-A-Diaper-Bag for myself
This one was on the winter sewing list. Every year I knock out a diaper bag or two for a special friend who is expecting. Here's the one I made at this time last year for my dear friend Magenta. I think it was my best yet.

It always strikes me that with all the travel I do, I really don't have a fun weekender or carry-on bag that I love. So, I think it's time. I haven't decided on a fabric yet. I'm tempted to make it leather, but a little worried that leather might make the bag too heavy. We'll see.

More Wax Cloth
Pop Muse brought me three more pieces of wax cloth from his recent trip to Ghana. He had two demands: that I make a tote for Mom Muse from some of the blue and a dashiki style top for my youngest nephew (10.5 mos) out of the orange/gold one. I have no idea where I am going to find a suitable pattern, but I'll try. Holler if you have any ideas. I may also make a caftan for my mom because, well, she' s awesome.

It's Bombshell Time
Yep. One year late to the party, I'm going to sew myself a Bombshell Swimsuit.

I plan to make it into a bikini a la Norma Kamali. There is a Muse family reunion with all aunts, uncles, cousins and the next generation of kids at a lake we used to go to as kids over the 4th of July weekend. So, it seems like a fun time to have a new suit. Maybe next year I'll sew a Nettie.And Drape Drape

I received a copy of drape drape for Xmas this year. I think it's time to take it for a test drive.

More Generally
After all of the fitted garments I've sewn since September, I'm a little ready for change, and my recent Ralph Pink Hareem Pants have inspired me to experiment with volume a bit more than I normally do. I've been wearing them non-stop and have already sewn another pair (stay tuned for the reveal). So, expect to see some cool summer drapey items soon.

Also, in the non-drapey category, I'm currently almost finished with another version of V1314, the Tracy Reese ruched dress that I've sewn twice already and used parts of in my lace Sew Sexy dress.

So, there is a lot happening in the Craft Lounge. What seasonal garments are you working on? And, like me, do all your sewing plans change along with a change of seasons?

27 comments:

My plans definitely change with the seasons. I'd like to make that bag for myself too, though since it took some time I might put it on the back burner. Good luck with your plans! I love the Bombshell, but I really want to find a cute one-piece suit with regular straps. Every retro pattern out there seems to only offer halter straps.

You have awesome plans! I have several pieces of tartan I need to turn into a winter dress and skirt, and other bits of fabric that need to be a coordinating jacket and skirt, and a nettie bodysuit pattern to play with and.... It goes on. And very subject to change!

As usual, I'm sewing a season or two ahead of what season it actually is, and sewing for the little ones in the family. Baby niece is getting several new bibs and a quilt, grandson and nephew's pjs are waiting on the cutting mat, I have some gorgeous felted wool, patent leather, and ostrich-embossed leather waiting to be made into handbags, and I picked up a few yards of deep, dark, brick red worsted wool for a Vogue suit pattern I've been meaning to get around to sewing! At the moment, I'm making my second Amy Butler Weekender bag (this one's actually for me).

Look like some fun projects coming up for you! Would fake leather be lighter than real leather? I have aversion to leather bags for similar reason - weight. I should also join you in sewing less fitted garments. Fitting is driving me crazy!

As for sewing for the season, I'm so slow that any seasonal planning is useless. Things get finished when they get finished. Unless I'm sewing for Summer 2015, I'm unlikely to have summer wardrobe done any time soon! Sometimes I think maybe I should get a head start on Fall sewing at the beginning of Summer. Then I might have a realistic chance of finishing in time!

cannot wait to see ALL OF THESE but especially the bombshell, which i think you will rock. after seeing your travel kit i agree that you need a great cute bag! :-) (like i should talk, but, whatever...)

Sometime in the 1990s, McCall's (I think) had a whole series of African-themed garments. Some of them look really authentic ... well, to a middle-aged White woman from the Bible Belt they look authentic. I bought all I could find; because the silhouettes were interesting, and some of the accessories packages had massive amounts of hard-to-find patterns for hats, bags, and vests. At least one of the patterns was for young teens, both boy and girl. I'll likely never use it. Shoot me an e-mail with contact info and I'll slip it in the mail.

I read "10.5" and assumed years, not months. Forgive me! The pattern is McCall's 6872, an Emeabe/Emeabe African Fashion from 1993. It is based on Nigerian traditional garb, so far as I can tell. You just know that baby needs some hammer pants and a loose man's robe!

So, I did see RP version and I opted not to get them because i didn't want to have to grade, so I figured would draft my own pair, since it's in my drafting book. I am aware that might sound odd. I also want less of a drop crotch, if that makes sense.

Welcome

Welcome to Clio & Phineas, where I sew and knit, run and bake, and make a mess in general. We even made a baby, Taco. Phin often gets stuck with clean up, especially now that we've had an addition. Feel free to send us an email at Clio[dot]Phineas[at]gmail[dot]com